What are the Different Types of German Cheese

Cheese is one of the most versatile food items that can be used in preparing a number of dishes. It can be served with wine, grated over pizzas and risottos and used to give a richness to simple soups and stews. There are hundreds and thousands of cheeses that are found all over the world, each with its own unique flavor and texture.

Although the most popular categorizing technique for cheeses is according to its texture and the method of manufacturing, a less known way to categorize cheese is through its country of origin. Italy and France are the undisputed leaders in this category through the sheer number of cheeses that is manufactured in both these regions.

Parmigiano-Reggiano is one of the most popular and well-known Italian cheese and Camembert is one of the most popular of French cheeses.

However Germany too, has a long tradition in making some of the best cheeses and you will be surprised at some of the beautiful variety of cheese that Germany has to offer. Through this story, we will acquaint you with some of the most popular and delectable German cheeses.

Germany produces more than 400 varieties of cheeses and these include hard cheese, soft cheese, semi hard, semi soft and fresh cheese. Here are some of the most popular and fine cheeses that Germany has to offer.

Allgäuer Bergkäse also known as mountain cheese is one of the most well-known and popular hard cheese of Germany. It has been awarded the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin).

This cheese is made from cow's milk and it has a very mild nutty taste. It is made in the late spring and early summer in mountain farms. Allgäuer Bergkäse cheese has small cherry sized holes in it and is usually aged for three to four months before consumption.

Limburger cheese which is mostly recognized for its pungent aroma is made of goat milk and is a cheese that first originated in Belgium. But now it is mostly produced in Germany. It is a soft cheese which has a firm rind on the outside and a soft and smooth inside.

It is one of the most difficult cheese to make and only seasoned cheese makers can make it perfectly. Because of its intense and strong aroma, Limburger cheese is used sparingly in sandwiches as a cheese spread.

A pungent but mildly flavored semi soft cheese, Weisslackerkäse cheese is made out of cow's milk. It has a slightly hard rind which is surface ripened and the interior is soft and crumbly. It is also known as beer cheese as it is typically served with strong beer. Weisslackerkäse cheese is ripened for 7-8 months in humid conditions.

Odenwälder Frühstückskäse cheese is produced in the Bergstrasse and Odenwald region of Germany and it has also been awarded the PDO. It is made with cow's milk and is one of the specialty German cheeses. It is a soft cheese that has a sharp strong flavor but a milder aroma than that of Limburger.

A fresh cheese that is the specialty of Germany is quark cheese. It is a very soft almost runny cheese that is available in low fat and high fat contents. Quark cheese is consumed like yogurt and as dips and spreads. It is combined with garlic, spices and herbs to make savory spreads. It is also used in desserts such as cheesecakes to give it a creamy and fluffy texture.

Some other cheeses that are produced in Germany are Rahmfrischkäse, Doppelrahm Frischkäse, Hüttenkäse and Sauermilchkäse which are fresh cheeses, Altenburger Ziegenkäse, Weinkäse, Münsterkäse, Romadur, German Brie, Blauschimmel Brie which are soft cheeses and Tilsiter , Trappistenkäse, Allgäuer Emmentaler which are hard and semi hard cheeses.

Germany provides a wide variety of cheeses, from soft melting cheese to strong and sharp tasting cheeses that you should definitely try.